Taking Care of a Pet is Great for Your Mental Health

A cat or dog running around the house is either a blessing or burden in your mind. Although pets take some effort on a daily basis, their presence is largely positive. As you grow into your senior years, you'll notice marked changes in your mind and body. By having a pet in your life, it's possible to improve your mental health without any medications in sight.

Fighting Off Stress

Stress affects everyone at any age. As you grow older, however, stress can be more serious than it was in your 20s or 30s. Taking care of a pet changes this scenario. Try petting your furry friend for a few minutes. The sensation of the fur, warmth and possible purring contributes to a relaxed state of mind. There's an actual rhythm to this motion, which also creates less stress. Focusing on the animal's needs takes your worries away for a moment. Relieving stress for only a few minutes a day is enough to make a difference in your life.

Encouraging Physical Activity

Pets will jump, run and walk around your home and yard with pride. Play with your furry friends to feel and look young. Throw a ball, and follow your pet around the yard. They'll love the engagement while you benefit from the positive, health effects. Dogs definitely get you moving because they require daily walks. Take them out on a leash so that they can use the bathroom and enjoy the fresh air. The outside air also improves your outlook on life as you soak in the vitamin D from the sunlight.

Warding Off Loneliness

Loneliness is a reality for many seniors. Their children and grandchildren may be in other cities, or spouses can be ill. A pet can quickly fill the day with happiness and love. These animals love you unconditionally. They'll be thrilled to see you arrive home at the end of the day. Feeling lonely creates mental decline over time as you seek out social situations otherwise. The pet makes you feel good so that you're more inclined to be social with others as loneliness becomes a distant memory.

Breaking the Ice

You might have a shy personality, which makes social situations difficult. Let your pet do the socializing as you meet new people. The pet draws in a new person, and you're given the chance to start a conversation. You might go to a dog park or beach as a way to meet other people with pets. Use this common attribute to forge bonds that will last for many years ahead. Leaning on friends and your favorite pets is a great way to stay mentally alert.

Bringing On the Laughter

It's a fact that laughter is good medicine. A good laugh releases positive hormones throughout your body. These hormones directly affect your brain. You'll feel happy with the day even if some setbacks are present. Your pet might do funny things throughout the day, which brings on laughter on a regular basis. Allow yourself to feel the humor, and your mental health improves as a result. People who live in an unhappy bubble without pets in their life can easily succumb to depression and other mental decline.

Typical pets are the furry types, but you might have a different animal in mind. Almost any animal can help you on a mental level. Care and play with it each day so that the feelings are mutual. Your mental happiness will grow exponentially in response.

3 Myths about Your Health

It is important to understand what you need to do in order to stay healthy. However, separating health myths from facts can be challenging, and it is just as important to understand what health information is out there that is misleading. Here are three health myths that can actually be detrimental in some cases. 

Vitamin supplements are the answer

Like all three of the myths listed here, there is some truth to this one. Vitamin supplements can be critical for people who have certain shortages such as vitamin D and vitamin B-12, and your doctor may responsibly prescribe specific vitamins or a multivitamin. However, the danger arises when people begin to believe that vitamins can be a replacement for eating healthily and become overly reliant on supplements. Furthermore, overuse of some vitamins can be dangerous.

Most experts agree that for people who eat a healthy diet, a daily multivitamin is not necessary. Unfortunately, many people fail to eat a balanced diet. The problem is that the science is still unclear about how well the body absorbs nutrients from multivitamins versus food. Furthermore, when vitamins are obtained through food, other nutrients accompany them as well such as fiber. 

The supplement market is not well-regulated, so it can be difficult to know what you are actually putting into your body. Furthermore, megadoses of vitamins can be harmful with consequences ranges from an upset stomach to liver problems and more. You should follow your doctors' instructions regarding vitamin supplements. 

Other sweeteners are superior to sugar

As with vitamins, this myth has its origins in truth. Sugar is not particularly good for you. However, some people believe that sugar in other forms, such as honey or brown sugar, is less unhealthy than processed white sugar. This simply is not the case. The body responds to all of these sugars in the same way.

There are also a number of myths about the dangers of sugar. You may have heard that sugar is as addictive as heroin, but all scientists really know is that sugar stimulates the pleasure centers of the brain just as many activities do. There is little research to support the idea that sugar makes children more hyperactive.

Some people may choose artificial sweeteners over sugar. The main advantage of these sweeteners is that they may aid in weight loss. In general, it is best to avoid too much sugar in any form.

Organic food is healthier

Tens of thousands of studies have found no evidence that organically grown food is healthier than food that is grown conventionally. Furthermore, organic food is not even necessarily free of pesticides. Many states allow organic farmers to use so-called "organic" pesticides. This simply means that the pesticides used are made from natural rather than synthetic materials. The effects of organic pesticides have not been widely studied, so it is unclear what the health risks may be. Organic farming may be beneficial to the soil and environment in many ways, and buying organic produce may support smaller scale farmers, but being unable to afford organic food does not meaning having to eat a substandard diet. 

There is one health fact that arises from dispelling all of these myths, and it is that the best approach to a healthy lifestyle is eating a balanced diet with a variety of foods. Getting the recommended servings of vegetables and fruit daily and keeping the consumption of overly processed foods to a minimum are both key. 

Keeping Your Fat Intake Down

Cutting calories and eating more produce might be your solution to a healthier outlook, but there's more complexity to weight gain and loss than first believed. Although these strategies are good starting points, you should also look at your fat intake as a key indicator of a healthy lifestyle. As you age, your body doesn't burn fat as well as it used to, which leads to unhealthy weight gain. Keep your fat intake down with a few tips that are easy to incorporate into daily lifestyles.

Be Aware of Recommended Daily Values

Ideally, you shouldn't consume more than 20 or 35 percent of your daily calories as fatty sources. This percentage is usually based on your age, gender and current weight. The percentage values may seem high, but many people eat substantially more fat than this each day. Keep a food diary, such as a downloaded app, that can help you quantify your meals. You may not realize how much fat is in that handful of peanuts or dip of a chip in ranch dressing.

Learn About Portion Sizes

As you try to keep your fat down, some people might go the extra mile to eliminate it entirely. However, you need fat in your diet because it offers substantial energy throughout the day. Simply portion out your fats so that you have an equilibrium within your system. A beef steak can be your main course, but don't eat a full pound of it. Remember that proteins should only take up a quarter of the plate or the size of a card deck. 

Trim the Fat

Passing up a great meal shouldn't be necessary when you take the proper steps to lower the fatty calories. Pull out that chicken, pork or beef. Cut off the extra fat sections that are obvious before cooking it. Choose healthy fats, such as olive oil, to cook these items each night. If a delectable sauce is calling your name, try to skim the fat from the juices before indulging. You'll end up reducing your fat intake while enjoying your favorite entrees. 

Swap Items Out

Heavy cream, butter and other fatty foods are often incorporated into recipes that substantially increase the calories. Try to swap out these items for healthier selections. Low-fat yogurt, hummus and skim milk are smart substitutions in those traditional recipes that will still retain flavor while lowering the fat content. Baking with applesauce and other substitutes is another example of a clever tactic to reduce fat. Be aware of your ingredients, and swap them out as necessary.

Curb the Dining Out

It's true that you'll eat fewer calories when you cook your own food. Try to eat out less often. The portions and fats inside one takeout burger alone are staggeringly high. If you must eat out, order your food very carefully. Choose broiled or baked items while requesting any dressings and sauces on the side. You can't control every aspect of your fat intake while dining out, but it's possible to cut down. Ask the wait staff about particular dishes that might be healthier than others. Restaurants will often add "heart health" choices to every menu.

The side effects to limiting your fat intake include lower blood-pressure and cholesterol numbers. In many cases, you might fight off ailments that require a daily, prescription pill. Try a low-fat diet so that you can reap the health benefits. It simply takes some self-control and discipline to follow along.